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John Bolton

Chairman of International Affairs Subcommittee

John Bolton

Chairman of International Affairs Subcommittee

Biography

John Bolton is a graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School and worked in private practice as a lawyer before becoming active in politics. As a prominent Neoconservative, Bolton worked in the presidential administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush in the Justice and State Departments. Bolton was George W. Bush’s Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from 2001 to 2005, before being appointed to the position of Ambassador to the United Nations. His nomination was filibustered by Senate Democrats, forcing Bush to make a recess appointment. Democrats, as well as many Republicans, were opposed to Bolton because of his belief that, “There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States.” Bolton served as ambassador until December 2006, just before his recess appointment would have expired. He now serves as a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and is a frequent guest on Fox News.

On July 13, 2016, the John Bolton PAC announced that it would be contributing $10,000 to Marco Rubio’s Senate campaign and $5,000 to Congressman Ron Desantis‘ bid for re-election to Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Both candidates are Republicans.

In an interview with the Boston Herald on February 19, 2016, Bolton discussed the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and opined that the U.S. Senate should take no action to consider President Barack Obama's nominee for the Court, judge Merrick Garland, during the president's final year in office.

In September 2011, National Rifle Association President David Keene announced the creation of an International Affairs Subcommittee under the NRA’s Legislative Policy Committee and appointed Bolton as chairman. Explaining why he picked Bolton to lead the committee, Keene said, “He may not be in the State Department anymore, but he’s as dedicated to preserving the Second Amendment as any NRA member and will be advising us on strategy as we confront our opponents in this newly dangerous forum.” The forum Keene was referring to is the United Nations. Keene has theorized that a small arms treaty being considered by the UN is designed to “destroy private gun ownership” in the United States. Bolton himself has suggested that the Obama administration is seeking to “use an international agreement as an excuse to get domestically what they couldn’t otherwise.”

A line in President George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union address that made the case for war against Iraq pointed to a supposed attempt by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to acquire nuclear material from Nigeria. This now-discredited intelligence was promoted by Bolton in his position as Undersecretary of State. Days before Bush’s speech, the Department of State branded the intelligence (which had also been rejected by the CIA) as “dubious.” While Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction was a key justification for the War in Iraq, no such weapons were ever found.

On July 13, 2016, the John Bolton PAC announced that it would be contributing $10,000 to Marco Rubio’s Senate campaign and $5,000 to Congressman Ron Desantis‘ bid for re-election to Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Both candidates are Republicans.

In an interview with the Boston Herald on February 19, 2016, Bolton discussed the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and opined that the U.S. Senate should take no action to consider President Barack Obama's nominee for the Court, judge Merrick Garland, during the president's final year in office.

In September 2011, National Rifle Association President David Keene announced the creation of an International Affairs Subcommittee under the NRA’s Legislative Policy Committee and appointed Bolton as chairman. Explaining why he picked Bolton to lead the committee, Keene said, “He may not be in the State Department anymore, but he’s as dedicated to preserving the Second Amendment as any NRA member and will be advising us on strategy as we confront our opponents in this newly dangerous forum.” The forum Keene was referring to is the United Nations. Keene has theorized that a small arms treaty being considered by the UN is designed to “destroy private gun ownership” in the United States. Bolton himself has suggested that the Obama administration is seeking to “use an international agreement as an excuse to get domestically what they couldn’t otherwise.”

A line in President George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union address that made the case for war against Iraq pointed to a supposed attempt by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to acquire nuclear material from Nigeria. This now-discredited intelligence was promoted by Bolton in his position as Undersecretary of State. Days before Bush’s speech, the Department of State branded the intelligence (which had also been rejected by the CIA) as “dubious.” While Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction was a key justification for the War in Iraq, no such weapons were ever found.